Book tackles clutter at home

The introduction of “Put Your House on a Diet,” states, “A cluttered house is like an overweight body.”

Continuing the comparison, the authors take the average American homeowner’s obsession with shopping - buying items for the pleasure of it rather than need - and liken it to overeating.

Citing the statistic that modern homes are three times as large as typical homes were in the 1950s, they take us to task for our gluttony.

The authors offer tips for resisting the urge to buy – by asking yourself where you’ll store the object, how you’ll care for it and, ultimately, if it’s something you really need – as well as guidelines for editing your possessions so that less time and space are needed to care for what you already own.

The book moves from room to room and gives hints for removing clutter and organizing what you keep.